Distillation apparatus



1,626,346 w. K. LEWIS DI STILLATION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5. 1923 FIG. 2.

VH0 \l'u 9o Warren K. Le W15.

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

PATENT oFFIcEa WARREN K. LEWIS, or NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIerion. r STANDARD DEVEL- OPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

DISTILLATION- APPARATUS.-

Application filed December 5, 1923. Serial no. 678,730.

This invention relates to the art of distillation, more particularly the distillation of hydrocarbons. and will be fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which I Fig. 1 represents in side elevation, parts being broken away, one form of embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification.

In the drawing, see Fig. 1), the reference character 1 designates a suitable heating vessel or still, and as the precise construction of thisis not material to an understanding of the invention allbut a portion is broken away, on acount .of'space limitation. Such a still may be of any usual or desired form,

' for example a shell still 'or a pipe still or coil. Connected to the still by a pipe 2 is a fractionating column 3 having transverse partitions or plates 4 with openings and bell-cap vapor' distributors 5 and liquid overflows 6. In the top of the tower is arranged a suitable cooling means, for example a valve-controlled coil 7 for a'cooling vfluid. At the base of the tower is a means for utilizing heat from the still. This comprises a heating passage, in the form shown, a pipe coil 8 connected to the pipe 2'and disposed in any suitable contour at the bottom of the tower. Valves 9, 10 and 11 allow the diversion of as much or as little of the hot products from the still through the coil 8 as may be desired. A pressure release F- valve 12 may be provided in-the pipe 2, ca

pable of being set for any desired pressure in cases where such is to be maintained back on the still or heating vessel, and by this meansruns may be made either without pressure or with pressure and yet allow operation of the tower without subjection to "such pressure. The pipe 2 discharges into the tower further up above the bottom, preferably along in the intermediate portion, and by proper regulation of-the valves goveming the coil 8 a close control may be had upon the temperature at the bottom of the tower while not interfering with discharge into the fractionating zones of the tower.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, the still I has a discharge pipe 20 leading up to about the iritermediateportion of-the tower 3, and

' instead of a coil in the bottom of the tower,

the heating passage is a bottom jacket compartment 80 into which hotproducts from the still or heating vessel may be diverted. By proper regulation of the valves 90, 100

and 110 the amount of hot products to maintain the temperature desired in'the base of the tower may be supplied to, the jacket.

Instead of the bell-cap type of plate in the tower, if desired plates with perforations or openings of suitable size to allow passage of vapors up through accumulated P charge into the tower, and are fractionated,

the desiredvapor fraction being taken off by the-top vapor off-take 13 to a suitable condenser system, not shown, and the heavier fraction works down to the bottom of the tower, being progressively stripped of light.

constituents, the heat required being supplied by the coil, or equivalent, utilizin heat from the hot fluids from the still. drain line lt per'mits withdrawal of the heavy fraction at the bottom of the tower.

While particularly advantageous for distillation (with or without pressure) of hydrocarbons, other materials amenable may of course be treated in the apparatus, the feature in any case being the utilization of the hot fluid from the still to provide necessary-heat in; the bottom of the tower and yet in such manner as not to allow mingling of contents at this point."

' 1. Apparatus of the character described, which comprises a still, 'a fractionating towerhaving plates with openings and bell caps and overflows, a coil in the top of'the towerfor regulable cooling fluid, a ipe con-- necting from the still to a point of discharge pressure release valve in said pipe, a valve-- controlled heating passage at the bottom of the tower,'and a connection between the said pipe and said heating passage.

2.,Apparatus of the character described,-

which comprises aheating vessel, 3. fractiom ating tower having plates with openings and bell-caps and overflows, regulable cooling means at the top of the tower, connecting from the heating vessel to a polnt of discharge in the intermediate portion of the tower, a pressure release valve in said a pipe pipe, a valve-controlled heating passage at the bottom of the tower, and a connection between the said pipe and said heating passage.

3. Apparatus of the character described, which comprises a heating vessel, a fractionating tower having plates with openings,

a connection from said heating vessel to a point of dischargein' the intermediate porthe bottom of the tower in connection.

4. Apparatus of the character described, which comprises a heating vessel, a fractionating tower, a connection from said heating circuit with said 'vessel to a point of discharge above the bottom of the tower,

I and heating means at the bottom of the tower in circuit with said connection.

5, Apparatus of the character described,

and a heating passage at which comprises a heating vessel, a fraction}; ating tower, a connection from said heating vessel to a point of discharge in an intermediate portion of the tower, and heat exchanging means at the bottom of the tower for utilizing heat of products passing from the said heating vessel to the tower for fractionation therein. I

6. Apparatus for distilling hydrocarbon oils, comprising a still, a fractionating tower, a connection for transferring vapors from the still to an intermediate portion of the tower, and a pipe in closed circuit with said connection and arranged to expose an extended surface in the lower portion of the tower, whereby the heat of vapors from the still is supplied to. said lower portion without admixture of the vapors with oil therein.

WARRENK. LEWIS. 

